Commitments, Guarantees, And Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Customer-owned securities pledged	$ 78.4	$ 80.2
Minimum margin deposit requirements	25.4
Auction rate securities, at par, held by retail clients after issuer redemptions and Stifel repurchases	25.1
Purchase of auction rate securities from customers, at par	6.2
Options Clearing Corporation [Member]
Customer-owned securities pledged	113.8
National Securities Clearing Corporation [Member]
Minimum margin deposit requirements	25.3
Minimum [Member]
Minimum margin deposit requirements	$ 21.4

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of customer securities accepted as collateral by the entity that it has sold or re-pledged to counterparties as collateral.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7523297&loc=SL6224234-111729

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 140

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph a(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8

-Paragraph B6

-Subparagraph c

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_CustomerSecuritiesForWhichEntityHasRightToSellOrRepledgeFairValueOfSecuritiesSoldOrRepledged
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant